Nature narratives: Eden, spoils or garden

Social narratives around nonhuman life on Earth shape how we interrogate, value and act upon it.

These storylines have changed substantially over time, not fully replacing each other. Empirical evidence has accumulated supporting both deep connections between humans and other organisms, and ancient and pervasive human influence on the biosphere ('nature as garden'). However, technical definitions, institutions, policy goals, and recommended actions have lagged behind, being more aligned with the 'nature as Eden' and 'nature as spoils of war' narratives, which are arguably two sides of the same coin –a stark physical and ontological separation between people and the rest of life on Earth.

In this talk, Professor Sandra Díaz will unpack the 'nature as garden' narrative, some of its cornerstones and challenges, and what it means for policy and action.